It doesn’t matter where they live in Sarasota – from Longboat Key to the north to Casey Key to the south, pet owners adore their furry family members. And for many, the choice of a location, home features or size of yard will be determined upon the needs of Spot or Fluffy. For those pet owners that can’t consider a house a home without features to accommodate the cat or dog, here are some great ideas to incorporate into your custom build.
Do you have any great ideas for pet owners who are building or renovating a new home? Let us know!
Details Pet Owners Will Love
Custom Washing Station: Like the rest of us, dogs love being outside in the gorgeous Florida weather. But it only takes a few months living in the Sarasota area to realize that a rainstorm can catch you off guard, that those gorgeous white sand beaches come home with you, and excessive rainfall makes for irresistible mud puddle. Having a custom washing station to clean and towel off the dogs before coming back inside is one of the most popular pet-friendly features. Whether an outdoor shower, or an extension of your mud room, you can clean off the dog (and your own sandy toes) before entering the main house.
Design a Feeding Station: Instead of leaving bowls on the floor, how about customizing your kitchen island or cabinetry to accommodate your pup’s dinner plans? You can construct built-in bowls (removable for cleaning) into a retractable drawer, to hide them away from the dog who eats too much, or won’t leave his brother’s food alone. You may wish to consider leaving a lower cabinet area open, and hide the dog bowls in there, or affix bowls off the floor at the end of an island or row of cabinets.
Hide the Litter Box: We’ve all had to put a litter box in the spare bathroom, or try to hide it away in our closet – but litter is messy, and the smell can begin to creep into areas of the home we would prefer it doesn’t. Taking a cue from the feeding stations, home and pet owners are building litter boxes into laundry room cabinetry, or directly into the wall in the mud room. Some have even built a pet tunnel between the laundry room and garage, to allow the cat to use the litter box out of sight and smelling distance – without having to worry about the pet getting outside.
Pocketed Doors: If you have ever wrestled with a pet gate, trying to keep it solidly in place only to have Fido run right over it – we understand your frustration. Consider building pocketed gates into door frames. These gates are connected and can provide quick restricted access, but can also fold back into the wall when not needed. These types of home features are great for resale value as well – as gates can keep both pets and children safely in place.
Pet Caves: You’ve heard of man caves and she-sheds – so why shouldn’t your pampered pets have a room of their own? Designing a room for pets may include opportunities to climb stairs, walk a catwalk, play with ropes or tennis balls affixed to the ceiling – the possibilities are endless. If you are building a smart house, install a pet camera to speak with your animals while you are gone during the day, and don’t forget the automatic pet treat dispenser. With all their favorite toys and comfort items in their own space, it allow you to corral them when necessary, keep them feeling safe – and close the door to hide it all away when necessary.
At Lindahl Construction, we build custom homes to meet your specifications and expectations. No matter your vision, bring it to our team in Sarasota and Longboat Key. We’ll bring it to life – after all, we’ve been building dream homes for decades.